About the Program
The pilot program is designed to benefit New Orleans youth and young adults within the 16-24 ‘Opportunity Youth’ age range who are old enough to have independent travel needs.
Our goal is to ensure that New Orleans youth and young adults who lack access to transportation, or are currently paying for their own transit fares, can benefit from this program.
The program launched in September 2024 and continues to enroll participants while capacity remains available and until the pilot program ends at the end of 2026.
Program Goals:
Remove financial barriers to travel for young adults.
Grow ridership for RTA transit service.
Educate the next generation about transit.
Collect data to improve transit for young adults.
Create the skills and confidence for lifelong public transit ridership.
Program details
Opportunity Pass can be used on:
All RTA bus routes
Streetcars
Ferries
The pass does not cover:
Jefferson Parish Transit (JP Transit)
Paratransit services
Digital Pass Rules:
Riders can download one pass per day
Each pass is valid for 24 hours
FRequently asked questions
Who is eligible?
Any Orleans Parish resident ages 16–24 may enroll. Eligible participants must be born between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2010.
Do I need a smart phone?
No. Riders without a smartphone can receive monthly physical passes instead.
Where do I sign up?
Enrollment is available at all New Orleans Public Library branches.
Can someone sign up for me?
No. Because Opportunity Pass is an individual-use program, each participant must complete their own enrollment.
Can I enroll as part of a group?
Yes. Small groups can enroll at library locations. Organizations interested in larger group enrollment or on-site signups should contact the program team.
Is space limited?
Yes. Enrollment is available while program capacity remains open, so participants are encouraged to sign up early.
